This is a good '95 show. Still, there are definitely better shows in the year. First set is, I guess, well enough played. Salt Lake City must've been a treat; Jerry following it up with FOTD, too ("spent the night in Utah"). Otherwise, I enjoyed the acoustic BTW, always love SMR (even if this version is a little shaky). Vince sounds good, throughout, and the closer, TMNS, while a little sleepy at first, picks up steam midway and toward the end.

The second set jam sequence - nearly forty minutes - from Truckin' through to Visions is the definite show highlight. Following Truckin' there's a couple rarities, with I Just Want To Make Love To You->That Would Be Something, that segues into an excellent 22 minutes of drums/space. Sweet transition into a beautiful rendition of Visions, appropriately featured on the 30 trips definitive live story.

All in all, it's a good show. By '95 standards, even great. Unique set list and Garcia truly sounds great - for any era - on that Visions. Deadbase ranks this show at 12 for 1995's "Favorite Tapes."

The Grateful Dead sound checked this in Atlanta a very long time back.(so far back that Donna Jean was doing backing vocals) It makes a first time, one time appearance here in its namesake town.

It was a paradise for lizards when young Brigham saw it first
He said I've seen some nasty deserts Lord, but this one here's the worst
Then the Lord called down to Brigham, said "I've got a great idea"
I want a mighty city and I think I want it here
Salt Lake City, that town of righteousness and fame
Salt Lake City, don't sound like much, but hell what's in a name?
Nobody ever sings about it, but Lord I be going there just the same
Salt Lake City, where it's so easy keeping straight
Salt Lake City, just really makes Des Moines look second rate
Ain't making no big deal about it
But I hear the Mormon girls are really great
Salt Lake City, hey, dig that Tabernacle Choir
Salt Lake City, yeah they be bound to take you higher
There just ain't no two ways about it, yes Lord they really light my fire
Well Brigham kicked a prairie dog, and he muttered in his beard
Said you've put me through some changes Lord but this one's really weird
The Lord just laughed at Brigham, said "you'd better get to work"
The next time I check in here, I want paradise on earth
Salt Lake City, where Brigham made the desert bloom
Salt Lake City, put a color TV in every room
And they got them crazy Mormon chicks, yes I'll be going there real soon
Salt Lake City, hey feel that magic in the air
Salt Lake City, you know that's kind of why I like it there
Salt Lake City, well you know that's where I'm bound
Salt Lake City, I'm going down to Salt Lake town

p.s.-Jerry follows with a Utah reference all his own!-FOTD

I was lucky to be at this show. The irony of the GD in Utah was enjoyable as was the relaxed setting compared to the mayhem of stadium shows, and skiing at Snowbird the days before.

This features my favorite Visions Jerry offers a gorgeous, chilling and haunting reading. The guitar solo is more developed than the 3-18-95 version. They had problems with the mix and hearing it now through good headphones really brings it to life.

The review by @Stellablu122 is right on the mark. Besides Visions, the other highlight for me is the run of:

Broken Arrow (best version I heard live)
BT Wind (Sharp and punctual, with Bobby on acoustic)
So Many Roads

With the announcement of the 30 years of the GD boxed set and discovering that this would be the final show I had to give it a revisit.

Yes I have listened to the version of Visions from this night countless times as it is possibly the best version they ever played but I am getting ahead of myself here.

I was pleasantly surprised by the overall performance played on this winter night back in Utah.

The first set is really quite enjoyable and features a very rare opener to commemorate the run in Salt Lake The band is loose and ready to have a good night.

FOTD is very sweet and sets the stage for the rest of the evening. Wang Dang is tight and full of buesy rawness.
Tennessee Jed is very good as Jerry is in fun spirits and really gives the Jed that extra kick.

Broken Arrow is a perfect choice as Phil sang a song every night this run. The entire bands elevates this one to greatness.

BT Wind features sweet licks from Jerry and Bobby crooning about life on the road with a broken heart.

You get a very solid, and possibly over looked, reading of So Many Roads. It is not as powerful as other versions from the fall of '94 but it is a keeper for sure.

Bob lays down a joyous Music Never Stopped to end the set. Vince is really strong on this night and he really found his sound by this year, the electric piano , and it is much more harmonious than it was back in 1991.

Set II is all about Jerry and he launches off with a great Foolish Heart that features a couple minor vocal flubs but the band really gets in the groove and Jerry steps up and plays some magical stuff.

Samba is quite good and Vince has some great fun on it.

The band launches into a joyous sing-a-long Truckin' that is text book perfect and features strong Phil harmonies and a nice peak and a short jam that drops into a fun surprise of I Just Want to Make Love to You, which had not been played since the fall of 1984 in Worcester and of coarse was sung by Brent.

I was at that show and we were blown away by that one which features an off the rail jam, this one is more delta blues and Jerry really has fun with it and offers up some fun vocals and some nice finger pickin'. This slides into That Would Be Something ,which is became a favorite of Jerry in the final years.

The appeal of this song is more of the tip of the hat to Paul and irony. Jerry was big on irony if you have not guessed by now yet.

The Drumz are incredible and you know something special is still ahead of us. The Space is good but not nearly as intense but guess what?

The glistering opening notes of Vision of Johanna come out of the darkness into the light and wow ! Jerry blows opens that glorious day glo covered door one more time.

It is simply Jerry doing what Jerry does best.... crooning the mastery of Bob Dylan and matching the music note for note perfectly.

For a me not ever seeing this song live, it will always be a great regret for me.

Just listen and be with Jerry and the band and let them carry you away.

The end the set with a rousing and strong Sugar Magnolia and it features a strong SSDD but some awful static through the main PA mars the ending.

I do hope the CD version cleans that up.

As for Liberty, the second most dreaded encore of the 1990's this one is perfect as Jerry, who loved singing it, is a joy to listen to as he sings with irony, regret and humor one of Robert Hunter's most dismissed songs of the entire catalog.

"If I was the sun, I'd look for shade
If I was a bed, I would stay unmade
If I was a river I'd run uphill
If you call me you know I will
If you call me you know I will"

Highlights, imo, is the cover of Paul McCartney's That Would Be Something, Foolish Heart, Music Never Stopped and the Drums/Space segment. A lot of the other stuff has been performed better elsewhere.

Jerry doing Visions from the 12th row. Pretty good night!!

http://www.swervn.com/RockPics/GD/

might be the best version of Visions of Johanna....by anyone ever.

I recommend it, especially the Foolish Heart, Truckin', and Visions of Johanna. I'd call this a must have show. Download it if you can. I sure wish I were there.

They're all crisp sound, low noise (except on Drums and a brief spot during Truckin') the mix is heavy on the high end generally. Bob and Vince instrumentally are just slightly ahead of Jerry, there's lots of cymbals, and Phil's bass notes are hard to pick out, that's the only thing.

Dear Charlie (Owsley of the Dead Show Mastering),

I didn't know where else to post this. Could you work your magic on a few more 60s shows?

Keep the Purple Haze coming!

Adam